Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

Radio host Fran Ambrose (CCH Pounder) does a show about men who kill their mothers. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) calls in as Ed from a seemingly suburban kitchen. His psychiatrist Dr. Richmond is a guest on the show. He recalls various stories from his past. As a young man, Norman (Henry Thomas) kills a girl obeying the delusional voice of his mother. He describes his life with his mother Norma (Olivia Hussey).There are some inconsistencies with the earlier sequels. It's nice to have Perkins back but he is mostly talking on the phone until the last part. Henry Thomas does a nice younger Norman in the flashbacks. The individual vignettes aren't that memorable and neither are the victims. This TV sequel tries to be Hitchcockian. It's better than feared but still not that compelling.

5.5 is overrating this movie. This not a good movie. The original Psycho from 1960 is a great movie. Psycho II is a great movie. Psycho III is a great movie. The Psycho remake from 1998 is a great movie. And this one is just crap. The characters make the most stupid decisions. It was just to give a character a happy ending and he does not even deserve a happy ending. It is not scary. And very badly written. Do not see this movie it is a big let down. Do not wast your time. Life is to short. Do not wast your money. I am some one who likes sequels and I was disappointed by the movie. See all the Psycho except this one. This one you can skip.

Mick Garris delivers a film with visual flair and style, yet in this horror sequel, the lack of story is the most disturbing element.This is a film overly fascinated with back story – something that should be expected from a prequel, I suppose – however, this is why it crumbles. The wonderful subtext that was present in the original Psycho film and even the sequels, is now front and center. The abusive relationship between Norman and his mother is no longer left to the imagination, but is now displayed clearly as a main feature of the movie. While getting a chance to finally meet Norma Bates piques our interest, it could never possibly hope to do justice to all the build up from the last three films. (An over- dramatic performance from Olivia Hussey doesn't help.)The movie in some ways is representative of the Psycho franchise, an incredible opening, a slightly disappointing second act, an interesting and dazzling third, and a sputtering failure for the fourth.Henry Thomas gives a tremendous turn as a young Norman Bates, while Anthony Perkins does as well as he can with the material he's given. Overall, however, these performances and the slick visuals can't carry this generally overacted and poorly written TV drama.

Anthony Perkins returns as 'former' psychotic Norman Bates in this cable-made entry in the "Psycho" series, here phoning a radio talk-show in the present day to discuss the topic of matricide; flashbacks show us the teenage Norman and his volatile relationship with his widowed mother, which had incestuous overtones. Joseph Stefano's script isn't very strong--the constipated narrative is full of stop-and-start action--while director Mick Garris' pacing is doggedly straightforward (despite some artistic flourishes early on). The victims are all promiscuous women, and Henry Thomas as young Norman (perhaps cast for his lanky frame) isn't up to rigors of a madman role--he's too intrinsically decent. Olivia Hussey does a fine, colorful job as the tempestuous Mrs. Bates and, as always, it's nice to see Perkins reprising his most famous character. About on the same level as "Psycho III", itself a long way off from the bar originally set by Alfred Hitchcock.